thief in a candle
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Part of the wick or snuff, which falling on the tallow, burns and melts it, and causing it to gutter, thus steals it away.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “thief in a candle” mean?
Part of the wick or snuff, which falling on the tallow, burns and melts it, and causing it to gutter, thus steals it away.
Is “thief in a candle” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.